NEW YORK (OSV News) – The following are capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television during the week of, as well as notes on TV programming for the same week. Televised films may or may not be edited for language, nudity, violence and sexual situations while the programs listed have not been reviewed and therefore are not necessarily recommended by OSV News.

Streaming Now:

"American Fiction" (2023; Amazon Prime)

Wry social satire is blended with the tale of an emotionally isolated novelist (Jeffrey Wright) and his troubled family life in writer-director Cord Jefferson's impressive feature debut, adapted from the 2001 novel "Erasure" by Percival Everett. As the scribe seeks to improve relations with his two siblings (Tracee Ellis Ross and Sterling K. Brown) and find a nursing home for his Alzheimer's patient mom (Leslie Uggams), he's depressed by the low sales of the weighty novels he pens and disgusted by the sensationalist portrayals of Black life that do well in the market (Issa Rae plays the author of one such bestseller). As a practical joke, he produces an outrageous parody of the genre, only to have it snapped up by publishers and sought after by Hollywood, much to the delight of his agent (John Ortiz). Though the resulting windfall helps him to pay for his mother's care, the escalating charade threatens to derail his newfound romance with a neighbor (Erika Alexander) he met by chance. Uproariously funny moments alternate with realistic and sometimes insightful ones in Jefferson's deft dramedy, though a passing affirmation of legal abortion and a subplot about the gay lifestyle of Brown's character combine with often salty dialogue to taint an otherwise tasty treat. Fleeting gory violence, mature themes, including homosexuality, drug use, implied premarital sexual activity, a couple of same-sex kisses, brief sexual humor, several instances each of profanity and milder swearing, pervasive rough language, frequent crude and crass expressions. The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Atonement" (2007; Netflix)

Moving World War II romance of a well-to-do young Englishwoman (Keira Knightley) serving as a nurse and the working-class soldier (James McAvoy) she has loved for years, but from whom she had been separated years before when her kid sister (Saoirse Ronan) wrongly accused him of a crime, an injustice that will haunt the accuser (now played by Romola Garai) ever after. Director Joe Wright, working from Christopher Hampton's adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel, persuasively limns an unusual story of betrayal, steadfast love, forgiveness and redemption with some surprising twists, and with further pluses in the sensitive performances and period detail. A fully clothed nonmarital sexual encounter, an implied encounter between an adult and an underage girl, use of the f-word among soldiers, brief profanity, wartime dead and wounded imagery, and a crude written sexual remark. The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Croods" (2013; Hulu)

Beautifully rendered and refreshingly good-humored, this animated comedy follows the adventures of the Stone Age family of the title as they face the perils of climate change. The overprotective father (voice of Nicolas Cage) keeps his clan -- including his loving wife (voice of Catherine Keener) and rebellious teenage daughter (voice of Emma Stone) -- safe inside a dark cave. But curiosity leads the latter to encounter a resourceful stranger (voice of Ryan Reynolds) who pledges to guide her and her relatives into the light of a safe haven. Directors and co-writers Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco provide fun for moviegoers of just about any age with a tale that carries an intriguing Christian subtext. Only frightening interludes that might overwhelm the littlest viewers pose any concern for parents. The OSV News classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Looking Ahead:

Sunday, April 19, 7-8 p.m. EDT (PBS) "Discovering Judi Dench." This special explores the British actress' more than six decade-long film career.

Monday, April 20, 1:45-3:30 p.m. EDT (TCM) "The Singing Nun" (1966). Hollywood's tribute to the joyful spirit of a young Dominican nun is colorful, sentimental and lively, though Henry Koster's glossy direction is out of tune with the reality of a basically interior story about the difficulty of secular fame for a member of a religious community. Greer Garson as the mother superior turns in a well-balanced performance while Debbie Reynolds sings prettily, and Agnes Moorehead provides comic relief. There is some pleasant amusement, a little uplift and the music of "Soeur Sourire" is well worth hearing. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association. (Followed by the drama "The Nun's Story" (1959), 3:30-6:15 p.m. EDT.)

Wednesday, April 22, 6-8 p.m. EDT (TCM) "Stagecoach" (1939). In this Western classic, a cowboy (John Wayne) wanted by the law on trumped-up charges joins an odd assortment of passengers (Claire Trevor, Thomas Mitchell, Donald Meek, John Carradine and others) on the stage to Lordsburg, New Mexico, in the midst of an Apache uprising. Directed by John Ford, the characters are a microcosm of frontier types, each of whom has a different reason for the journey whose dangers are played out against the majestic vistas of Monument Valley, with a brilliantly staged Native American attack and a final showdown on the streets of Lordsburg bringing the story to a rousing finish. Stylized violence. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.

Wednesday, April 22, 8-9 p.m. EDT (EWTN) "EWTN Live." On this edition of the weekly program, series host Jesuit Father Mitch Pacwa talks with Professor Stacy Trasancos. who specializes in synthesizing science with philosophy and theology (TV-G -- general audience).

Saturday, April 25, 7-10:30 p.m. EDT (AMC) "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" (2023). More interesting morally than dramatically, this prequel to the earlier installments of the franchise chronicles the teen years of the future president (Tom Blyth) of the dystopian nation in which the series is set. As the scion of a cash-strapped but elite family, he aspires to become part of the country's establishment. Yet both his relationship with his compassionate best friend (Josh Andrés Rivera) and his burgeoning romance with an apparently doomed victim (Rachel Zegler) of the fatal titular tournament, whom he is assigned to mentor, incline him to rebellion. Returning director Francis Lawrence's fourth adaptation of Suzanne Collins' young adult novels provokes thought but mostly lacks emotional engagement, though its humane values will be appreciated by those committed to biblical ethics. Probably acceptable for older teens. Much bloodless but sometimes harsh violence, drug use, a couple of crass terms. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

- - - John Mulderig is media reviewer for OSV News. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @JohnMulderig1.